Heat and mass transfer additives for improved aqueous absorption fluids

ABSTRACT

The rate of water vapor sorption of an absorption cycle cooling and/or heating system using an aqueous alkali metal halide solution as the working fluid is increased by adding to the fluid an effective additive amount of at least 2 parts per million of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic ketone or aldehyde capable of increasing the rate of water vapor absorption.

[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/353,171 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/878,232, filed Jun. 17, 1997, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/499,313, filed Jul. 7, 1995, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to aqueous absorption refrigeration or cooling systems in which water, as the sole refrigerant, is absorbed in an absorber by an aqueous absorption fluid, often referred to as a working fluid. Aqueous absorption fluids containing heat and mass transfer additives improve the absorption system performance by increasing water vapor absorption rates. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,419,145 and 5,577,388, amines are shown to be effective additives for improving the performance of aqueous absorption fluids. The presence of such additives improves water cooling temperature changes in the absorber, increases the power load and heat and mass transfer, and reduces the observed process vapor pressure, as well as providing other advantages. The present invention describes other heat and mass transfer additives for improving performance of the systems in which the working fluids containing the additives are used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to the present invention, aqueous absorption working fluids are improved by adding effective amounts of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic ketone or aldehyde having between 5 and 24 carbon atoms. The improved heat and mass transfer additives are used in aqueous metal salt solutions. The presence of the effective amount of ketone or aldehyde increases the rate of water vapor absorption by the absorption fluid thereby achieving important advantages and improvements in system performance. The improvements include absorber power load increases and improvements in the change of absorber fluid concentrations. Further improvements include increases in overall heat transfer coefficients and sorption fluid side film heat transfer coefficients. The advantage of such improved absorption fluid performance allows for reduction of sorber heat exchange surface areas needed to satisfy a given load resulting in reduction of absorber size and costs. These and other improvements and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The specific improved aqueous absorption solutions used in the system of the present invention are aqueous solutions of metal salts. The preferred metal salts are alkali metal halides, particularly lithium bromide, lithium chloride and lithium iodide and mixtures of two or more of them. The most preferred working fluid is an aqueous solution of lithium bromide as the only substantial absorbent present in the aqueous solution as used in today's absorption chillers. In such solutions, a small amount of metal hydroxide may be present for pH corrosion control, typically between about 0.05 and about 0.15 normal. However, in addition to the preferred lithium bromide, one or more of the following salts may also be present: ZnCl₂, ZnBr₂, MnCl₂, MnBr₂, MgCl₂, MgBr₂, SrCl₂, SrBr₂, CaCl₂, CaBr₂, FeCl₂, FeBr₂, LiCl, LiI, LiNO₂, LiNO₃, LiSCN and LiClO₃. The amount of salt present, whether lithium bromide alone or a mixture of two or more of the aforesaid salts is preferably between about 40% and about 85%, by weight. The aforesaid LiBr aqueous absorption solutions are well known to those skilled in the art as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,530.

[0005] Ketones may also be used with aqueous solutions containing alkali metal hydroxides. The alkali metal hydroxide absorption fluids are aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof. Preferred hydroxide compositions are those utilizing a mixture of the two hydroxides, and preferably those in which the total hydroxide concentration is between about 30% and about 80%, by weight. It has been found that optimum energy storage potentials are realized when sodium hydroxide is present between about 35% and about 75%, by weight, of the combined sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide weight. The amount of sodium hydroxide present in the salt mixture for systems at crystallization temperatures above 30 EC is 50 % or above, whereas for temperatures below 30 EC, the preferred amount of sodium hydroxide is at or below 50% of the salt mixture. The most preferred amount of sodium hydroxide is between 40% and 55% of the combined weight of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide for crystallization temperatures below 30 EC. In addition to the aforesaid sodium and/or potassium hydroxide solutions, relatively small amounts of other alkali metal hydroxides may be added as well. Thus, the hydroxide solutions may contain up to about 50% cesium, rubidium, and/or about 35% lithium hydroxide, based on the weight of sodium and/or potassium hydroxides. It has been found that aldehydes are not effective heat and mass transfer additives with metal hydroxides.

[0006] The heat and mass transfer additives of the invention are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic ketones and aldehydes having between 5 and 24 carbon atoms. Preferred additives are normally liquid at system operating conditions, for example, between about 30 EC and up to 100 EC or more. Effective additives have a normal boiling point of at least about 100° C. at atmospheric pressure. Compounds having boiling points of 180 EC or higher are particularly preferred. The additives may be soluble or insoluble in the brine working fluid. However, insoluble compounds must be liquid at 20 E and above, whereas soluble additives may be solid as a pure compound at ambient temperatures but must fully dissolve and not form precipitates at 20 E or higher. Additives of the present invention may be used in systems with absorber temperatures down to about 15 EC if they are selected from compounds having a melting point less than the absorber temperature. The additives may be liquid over a wider temperature range, both higher and lower, without adversely affecting the operation of the invention.

[0007] The ketone additives of the invention are of the formula R₁(C═O)R₂ wherein R₁ and/or R₂ are aliphatic or substituted aliphatic groups of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or are cycloaliphatic or aromatic or substituted cycloaliphatic or aromatic groups of from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, respectively. Where the hydrocarbon groups are alkyl groups, and wherein R₁ or R₂ is a methyl group, the carbon atom of the other alkyl group attached to the carbonyl group is a primary or tertiary carbon atom. Thus, ketones having R₁ as a methyl group and the other alkyl group R₂ having a secondary carbon atom attached to the carbonyl group such as 3-methyl-2-heptanone as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,087 have inferior heat and mass transfer properties in LiBr absorption fluids as compared to ketones of the present invention, and are specifically excluded. Preferred aliphatic ketones are those in which R₁ and R₂ are alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Either or both of the alkyl groups may be substituted, preferably halogen substituted, and more preferably fluoro substituted. Examples of preferred aliphatic ketones include 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 5-methyl-2-hexanone, 3,3-dimethyl-2-hexanone, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, 4-methyl-2-hexanone, 5-methyl-2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, 4-heptanone, 2-octanone, 3-octanone, 4-octanone, 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanone, nonanone, decanone and undecanone. Cycloaliphatic ketones, and particularly cyclohexanone, cyclooctanone, decalone and alkyl and halogen substituted derivatives are also effective additives. Aromatic ketones include acetophenone (methyl phenyl ketone), propiophenone (ethyl phenyl ketone), tetralone and benzophenone (diphenyl ketone) and their alkyl and halogen substituted derivatives. Specific examples include alpha-tetralone and 4-methylproiophenone.

[0008] The aldehydes used as heat and mass transfer additives within the scope of the invention are aliphatic aldehydes having from 5 to 24 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 6 to 14 carbon atoms in the aliphatic or alkyl chain, which also may be halogen substituted. Specific aliphatic aldehydes are hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, etc. and longer chain aldehydes for example, lauryl aldehyde (C-12) and myristic aldehyde (C-14). Useful aromatic aldehydes include benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde and substituted aromatic aldehydes including ether and hydroxy substituted compounds such as vanillin (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde).

[0009] The ketones and aldehydes may also include one or more other functional groups, particularly halogens and more preferably chlorine or fluorine substituted molecules as previously disclosed. In addition, the molecules may also contain alcohol, thiol, amine, and ether groups, provided such functional groups do not cause the additive to form a precipitate or otherwise induce chemical instability in the presence of the metal salt solutions. Combinations of ketones and/or aldehydes may also be found suitable for different salts or salt combinations.

[0010] Additives may be selected from the aforesaid group of compounds based on their vapor pressures, boiling points and/or molecular weights. Additives having comparatively lower volatility are preferred. The comparative volatilities of different candidates may be approximated from their boiling points as pure compounds. However, because the vapor pressure of the heat and mass transfer additive is suppressed in the presence of absorbent salts in the same way that water vapor pressure is, the better measure of volatility is the partial pressure of the additive when saturated with absorbent or refrigerant under chiller absorber or evaporator conditions. The extent of the partial pressure suppression depends on the chemical structure of the additive and also on the concentration of the absorbent solution. Less volatility is generally found with higher molecular weight additives. The upper limit on molecular weights is practically limited by the melting point of the additives, which, as previously noted, must be liquids under normal chiller operating conditions, including evaporator conditions. Accordingly, the additive should not solidify when exposed to water at about 4° C., or form solid crystalline hydrates with the chilled refrigerant water. Similarly, the additive should not form solid materials when in contact with absorbent solution under absorber conditions, typically LiBr at 61% and 32° C. However, higher solution concentrations may be used, with temperatures as low as 25° C. for non-standard conditions, or at different conditions when alternate absorption fluids are used.

[0011] Effective additive amounts of ketone or aldehyde added to the aqueous salt solutions for the purpose of improving heat and mass transfer are from at least about two parts per million up to about 50,000 ppm, preferably up to about 20,000 ppm, by weight. Preferred concentrations are between about 2 ppm and 10,000 ppm and more preferably between about 5 ppm and about 5,000 ppm. However, optimal performance is usually between about 100 and about 500 ppm. A slow deterioration in performance is found at very high concentrations, of say 40,000 ppm or 50,000 ppm or more. At such very high concentrations, the additive has long since passed its solubility limit and gathers in a separate organic layer floating on top of the brine or refrigerant. A very thick layer of additive does not contribute to chiller performance, and instead becomes a burden on chiller efficiency and operation. Mixtures of the aforesaid additives may also be used. In addition to mixtures of the ketones and aldehydes, the additives may be used with other known heat and mass transfer additives which may be present or added to the absorption fluid. Examples of such known additives are alcohols, particularly those having 6-10 carbon atoms such as 2-ethylhexanol or n-octanol and amines disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,419,145 and 5,577,388, the descriptions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0012] According to the invention, it has been found that the presence of one or more ketones or aldehydes in the aforesaid aqueous absorption fluids results in substantially improved heat and mass transfer performance of the absorption working fluid composition. Specifically, the performance of the system improves in the following manner: water cooling temperature change in the absorber, for a constant water flow rate, rises significantly; the absorber power load increases proportional to the change in water cooling temperature; the steady state process vapor pressure drops, and if brought back to its initial value to achieve a constant evaporator temperature, the change in concentration of the absorber fluid increases significantly; the absorber solution subcooling, i.e., the difference between the maximum temperature at equilibrium (saturation) and the actual solution temperature, is decreased by several degrees; the absorber heat exchanger tube (solution side) interface comprises a highly agitated turbulent film as compared to a generally laminar flow pattern without presence of the additive; and overall heat transfer coefficients and sorption fluid film heat transfer coefficients are increased.

[0013] As previously noted, water vapor absorption systems incorporating the heat and mass transfer additives in the aqueous alkali metal absorption solutions of the invention include a number of different types of systems incorporating one or more absorbers in which water vapor absorption solutions are typically used. Such equipment includes absorption chillers and refrigeration systems as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,966,007, 5,038,574 and 5,186,009, thermal energy storage systems as disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,823,864, as well as multiple effect absorption systems, for example, double effect and dual loop systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,266,266 and 4,542,628, triple effect systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,515 and 5,390,509 and multiple effect systems resulting from a combination of single or double effect apparatus such as the triple effect system comprising combined single effect circuits as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,136 as well as single effect chillers and commonly used double effect chillers and heat transformers. The aqueous working fluids of the invention may also contain a corrosion inhibitor such a chromate, nitrate, tungstate or molybdate, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,009 and 5,335,515 or any other suitable corrosion inhibitors. Where aldehydes are present, the use of certain corrosion inhibitors may be restricted to avoid aldehyde oxidation.

[0014] To illustrate the improvement of system performance by using the heat and mass transfer additives of the present invention, the following examples are provided. In the Table, additives within the scope of the present invention are shown by way of example. The results given are for a constant set of operating conditions and include: initial cooling water (“Tube”) temperature of 30 EC, a system water vapor pressure of 10 mbar, 7 EC dew point (evaporator temperature), initial aqueous solution concentration of 60% LiBr, initial solution flow rate of 500 grams/min except/or 2-octanone and 4-methyl-2-pentanone using 400 grams/min., and initial solution temperature of 48 EC entering the absorber, using a special bench test absorption machine. The water and solution temperatures, flow rates and vapor pressures are taken from monitor readings during operation. The concentrations are determined from fluid samples taken from the machine.

[0015] The results are based on heat transfer equations well known to practitioners of the art. The absorber load dQ/dt, shown as W, is calculated from the water temperature, heat capacity of water, and water flow rates, $\frac{Q}{t} = {\left( {T_{{H_{2}0},{out}} - T_{{H_{2}0},{i\quad n}}} \right)*{C_{p}\left( {H_{2}0} \right)}*\frac{m_{H_{2}0}}{t}}$

[0016] For the heat transfer coefficients, the temperature change is treated as the log mean differential temperature, where ${LMDT} = \frac{\left( {T_{{Sol},{i\quad n}} - T_{{H_{2}0},{out}}} \right) - \left( {T_{{Sol},{out}} - T_{{H_{2}0},{i\quad n}}} \right)}{{\ln \left( {T_{{Sol},{i\quad n}} - T_{{H_{2}0},{out}}} \right)} - {\ln \left( {T_{{Sol},{out}} - T_{{H_{2}0},{i\quad n}}} \right)}}$

[0017] The outside film heat transfer coefficient ho is calculated from $h_{0} = \frac{1}{\frac{1}{U_{0}} - R_{i,m}}$ $U_{0} = \frac{\frac{Q}{t}}{{LMDT}*\left( {{tube}\quad {area}} \right)}$

[0018] where

[0019] and where _(Ri,m) is the thermal resistivity of the inside cooling water and copper metal tube wall. Solution subcooling is the temperature difference (AT) between the actual solution temperature leaving the absorber and the calculated absorber solution equilibrium temperature at the measured concentration and system vapor pressure values. Solution concentration change (dx) is measured to give mass transfer of water while cooling water side temperature (H₂O dt) measures heat transfer. Lower subcooling temperature values reflect greater system efficiency as do increased outside film heat transfer coefficients (h₀), H₂O dt and dx measurements The value calculated for solution subcooling is one measure of the efficiency of the system for water vapor absorption, with lower subcooling temperatures indicating an improvement. However, under certain conditions, the derived subcooling numbers may be contrary to other direct measurements of water vapor absorption. In the Table some data show higher calculated solution subcooling while also showing increased water vapor absorption rates by increases in absorber loads, and increases in heat and mass transfer coefficients. Thus, the derived subcooling results are to be checked against other direct evidence of increased absorption rates. TABLE Load ho Subcooling Additive ppm H₂O dt dx W W/m2K ° C. 2-octanone (bp 173° C.) 0 0.77 2.02 900 1110 6.03 0 0.76 1.98 880 976 4.41 0 0.79 2.20 915 996 3.69 0 0.79 2.22 914 1011 3.99 0 0.72 2.16 835 920 5.39 0 0.79 2.23 921 1068 4.43 5.3 1.54 3.82 1784 3591 4.73 5.3 1.52 3.98 1773 3105 3.49 5.3 1.50 3.89 1739 2897 3.17 5.3 1.49 3.86 1735 2795 2.96 5.3 1.37 3.47 1596 2309 2.55 11.9 1.61 3.99 1866 3809 4.13 11.9 1.61 4.13 1866 3641 3.66 11.9 1.61 4.17 1866 3768 3.97 19.7 1.64 4.12 1908 4333 4.56 19.7 1.61 3.92 1872 4225 4.69 19.7 1.60 4.09 1893 4083 4.56 47.3 1.62 3.81 1878 4803 5.51 47.3 1.60 4.23 1960 4862 4.94 47.3 1.68 4.09 1953 4948 5.02 47.3 1.65 4.07 1919 4555 4.91 47.3 1.64 4.37 1902 4356 4.75 93.4 1.68 4.11 1946 4977 5.36 93.4 1.66 4.17 1927 4752 4.63 93.4 1.65 4.14 1914 4651 4.61 191.6 1.52 3.84 1770 4425 5.70 191.6 1.58 3.92 1833 4726 5.48 191.6 1.54 3.69 1791 5420 6.73 2-octanone 300 1.59 3.92 1848 5168 6.22 300 1.59 3.92 1848 5168 6.22 300 1.55 3.89 1799 4754 6.52 300 1.60 3.96 1858 5218 6.00 300 1.60 4.07 1893 5160 5.80 300 1.69 3.99 1965 5295 5.58 400 1.57 4.00 1819 4497 5.33 400 1.66 4.26 1923 4805 5.03 400 1.66 4.21 1925 4752 5.00 400 1.69 4.20 1959 4778 5.17 400 1.65 3.97 1917 4632 5.46 400 1.66 4.03 1924 4711 5.44 500 1.55 3.72 1805 4494 5.66 500 1.56 3.79 1813 4430 5.63 500 1.61 3.90 1872 4756 5.39 500 1.63 3.97 1895 4762 5.36 500 1.67 3.91 1936 5090 5.44 500 1.64 4.03 1909 4845 5.33 750 1.52 3.76 1768 4228 5.82 750 1.57 3.82 1824 4402 5.83 750 1.69 4.05 1959 4737 5.17 750 1.60 3.81 1853 4792 5.28 4-methyl-2-pentanone (bp 117° C.) 0 0.87 3.90 938 997 2.29 0 0.77 3.62 837 952 3.60 0 0.81 3.81 879 961 3.10 0 0.90 3.38 978 1154 5.02 0 0.83 3.11 901 1041 4.88 0 0.89 3.24 960 1133 4.83 5 1.17 2.85 1272 1788 2.79 4-methyl-2- pentanone 5 1.20 3.07 1331 1795 3.51 5 1.20 3.01 1300 1770 3.64 10 1.24 2.75 1344 2152 4.47 10 1.29 3.20 1401 2199 4.61 10 1.26 3.07 1366 2173 4.59 20 1.32 3.23 1431 2384 4.69 20 1.34 3.19 1450 2198 3.58 20 1.32 3.23 1430 2203 3.68 50 1.35 3.34 1466 3211 6.81 50 1.40 3.28 1516 3246 6.14 50 1.39 3.28 1502 3245 6.02 100 1.38 3.23 1497 3575 6.98 100 1.40 3.13 1519 3459 7.11 100 1.38 3.12 1502 3399 6.69 200 1.16 2.89 1256 2849 8.02 200 1.26 2.83 1370 2978 7.61 200 1.31 2.89 1418 3100 7.23 500 1.15 2.36 1252 2750 8.53 500 1.24 2.71 1346 2877 7.64 500 1.27 2.81 1375 2874 7.09 cyclohexanone (bp 155° C.) 0 0.91 2.24 1063 1379 5.1 0 0.92 2.24 1074 1369 4.7 0 0.92 2.19 1072 1383 4.8 5.1 1.01 2.41 1175 1443 3.3 5.1 1.01 2.42 1176 1426 3.2 5.1 1.01 2.47 1171 1419 3.2 10.4 1.14 2.86 1319 1560 1.6 10.4 1.13 2.80 1316 1563 1.7 cyclohexa- none 10.4 1.15 2.79 1331 1688 2.9 20.5 1.32 3.20 1536 2087 2.0 20.5 1.34 3.17 1556 2095 1.9 20.5 1.33 3.19 1547 2066 1.8 50.2 1.55 3.82 1804 2731 1.4 50.2 1.59 3.89 1844 2632 0.9 50.2 1.56 3.81 1814 2584 0.7 100 1.71 4.09 1989 2977 0.5 100 1.73 4.12 2009 3037 0.7 200 1.69 4.26 1967 3203 1.1 200 1.69 4.24 1965 3122 0.8 200 1.69 4.28 1963 3094 0.8 348 1.68 4.26 1953 3378 1.8 348 1.70 4.30 1980 3222 0.9 348 1.71 4.34 1991 3196 0.8 501 1.70 4.30 1971 3411 1.7 501 1.70 4.27 1971 3420 1.6 501 1.69 4.33 1966 3264 1.2 100 1.63 4.15 1892 3134 1.8 100 1.62 4.13 1888 3081 1.5 100 1.61 4.20 1872 3022 1.5 1500 1.60 4.04 1811 2927 2.1 1500 1.54 3.97 1786 2861 1.9 1500 1.56 3.94 1808 2878 1.9 4-methylpropiophenone (bp 238° C.) 0 0.97 1.80 1051 1253 7.75 0 0.92 1.73 998 1330 7.16 0 0.93 1.72 1008 1338 7.11 4-methylpro- piophenone 0 0.93 1.71 1009 1342 7.04 5 1.52 3.30 1645 2560 4.11 5 1.56 3.44 1695 2630 3.55 5 1.56 3.48 1692 2635 3.73 5 1.57 3.49 1700 2541 3.23 10 1.40 3.05 1525 4163 8.71 10 1.41 3.01 1533 4162 8.78 10 1.40 3.00 1524 4158 8.79 10 1.40 3.03 1522 4180 8.65 20 1.56 3.28 1696 4747 7.95 20 1.35 2.84 1463 4177 9.47 20 1.34 2.82 1450 4254 9.44 20 1.33 2.81 1443 4227 9.45 50 1.31 2.82 1426 4147 9.35 50 1.31 2.83 1424 4094 9.41 50 1.31 2.80 1427 4065 9.44 100 1.32 2.78 1438 4223 9.47 100 1.31 2.77 1426 4150 9.46 100 1.31 2.75 1424 4138 9.51 200 1.43 2.99 1553 4572 8.86 200 1.52 3.17 1645 4693 8.19 200 1.66 3.56 1802 3983 6.03 200 1.69 3.62 1835 4285 6.17 500 1.69 3.65 1834 4503 6.27 500 1.74 3.73 1885 4359 5.48 500 1.78 3.84 1928 4046 4.64 1000 1.08 2.20 1174 1780 7.27 1000 1.05 2.17 1145 1731 7.51 1000 1.08 2.11 1171 1779 7.64 2000 0.99 2.00 1074 1461 6.69 2000 1.01 2.06 1099 1540 6.46 2000 0.96 1.99 1042 1440 7.08 alpha-tetralone (bp 116° C. @ 6 mm) 0 0.91 1.79 985 1248 6.38 0 0.94 1.75 1021 1312 6.34 0 0.93 1.76 1015 1308 6.36 0 0.93 1.76 1014 1310 6.43 5 0.91 1.82 991 1244 7.03 5 0.91 1.89 992 1179 5.90 5 0.91 1.87 988 1189 6.08 5 0.90 1.88 980 1176 6.02 10 0.99 2.07 1074 1327 5.47 10 0.99 2.05 1076 1336 5.51 10 0.99 2.05 1074 1341 5.60 20 1.10 2.26 1194 1613 5.69 20 1.10 2.17 1193 1617 5.85 20 1.09 2.18 1185 1617 5.79 50 1.37 2.98 1491 2230 5.01 50 1.37 2.63 1485 2126 5.53 50 1.36 2.67 1476 2161 5.53 50 1.34 2.67 1459 2142 5.50 100 1.44 2.83 1567 2470 5.40 100 1.47 2.86 1601 2492 5.41 100 1.47 2.84 1599 2556 5.46 200 1.51 2.88 1642 2580 5.05 200 1.52 2.89 1654 2624 4.96 200 1.51 2.88 1635 2589 5.06 500 1.42 3.72 1687 2531 3.27 500 1.61 3.79 1752 2621 2.70 500 1.59 3.80 1730 2651 2.74 alphatet- tralone 500 1.59 3.83 1728 2637 2.74 1000 1.25 3.01 1360 1605 1.94 1000 1.27 3.02 1376 1647 1.96 1000 1.29 3.06 1405 1722 2.00 2000 1.05 2.54 1144 1357 3.70 2000 1.09 2.55 1180 1400 3.58 2000 1.10 2.53 1192 1403 3.22 2-decanone (bp 211° C.) 0 0.89 1.36 964 1067 5.77 0 0.89 1.36 966 1080 5.95 0 0.89 1.37 965 1054 5.57 0 0.89 1.37 967 1075 5.86 5 1.19 1.45 1295 1533 5.33 5 1.19 1.42 1288 1526 5.46 5 1.18 1.43 1284 1496 5.20 10 1.37 1.88 1492 1936 5.12 10 1.37 1.91 1490 1951 5.32 10 1.37 1.90 1486 1949 5.42 20 1.56 3.04 1689 2368 3.11 20 1.51 3.26 1635 2276 3.11 20 1.49 3.21 1620 2278 3.18 20 1.50 3.22 1628 2313 3.29 50 1.75 3.82 1901 3267 3.48 50 1.74 3.80 1886 3189 3.35 50 1.74 3.76 1886 3202 3.34 100 1.89 4.07 2047 3733 2.73 100 1.89 4.06 2046 3729 2.76 100 1.89 4.07 2051 3750 2.84 200 1.87 4.09 2034 3624 2.52 2-decanone 200 1.94 4.24 2099 3654 1.95 200 1.93 4.25 2099 3715 1.96 200 1.94 4.26 2102 3748 1.98 500 1.74 3.87 1893 3178 2.86 500 1.75 3.87 1903 3247 2.98 500 1.76 3.90 1910 3279 2.98 1000 1.54 3.42 1674 2346 2.47 1000 1.54 3.41 1671 2380 2.67 1000 1.54 3.44 1670 2393 2.67 2-undecanone (bp 231° C.) 0 0.89 1.85 971 1171 5.52 0 0.89 1.85 968 1187 5.84 0 0.89 1.83 972 1203 6.00 5 0.78 1.41 844 1107 7.49 5 0.81 1.43 881 969 5.23 5 0.81 1.42 880 985 5.52 5 0.80 1.41 872 988 5.65 10 0.80 1.63 867 1112 7.36 10 0.80 1.55 869 1209 8.87 10 0.79 1.57 862 1236 9.05 10 0.79 1.57 865 1241 9.10 20 0.83 1.75 899 1300 8.39 20 0.83 1.75 899 1300 8.39 20 0.82 1.73 889 1301 8.66 20 0.68 1.43 746 984 9.35 50 1.01 2.19 1101 2054 8.42 50 1.01 2.16 1099 2075 8.56 50 0.94 1.99 1023 1757 8.81 100 1.06 1.92 1155 2531 9.51 100 1.25 2.46 1356 2258 6.48 2-undeca- none 100 1.27 2.55 1379 2394 6.56 100 1.27 2.55 1379 2394 6.56 100 1.27 2.55 1379 2394 6.56 100 1.11 2.14 1206 1998 7.78 100 1.11 2.14 1206 1998 7.78 200 1.43 2.92 1550 3818 7.60 200 1.46 2.87 1583 4075 7.76 200 1.47 2.77 1599 3986 7.82 500 1.62 3.18 1760 5332 7.34 500 1.63 3.18 1773 5346 7.55 500 1.63 3.18 1773 5346 7.55 500 1.65 3.24 1790 5356 7.66 1000 1.67 0.59 1810 4481 11.54 1000 1.43 0.15 1555 4635 14.46 1000 1.43 0.15 1550 4626 14.54 1000 1.42 2.58 1539 4585 9.77 1000 1.52 2.88 1655 4783 8.57 1000 1.51 2.85 1642 4716 8.68 1000 1.52 2.85 1648 4767 8.79 1500 1.64 3.03 1785 4133 6.34 1500 1.65 3.05 1792 4234 6.52 1500 1.69 3.13 1837 4316 6.76 2-decalone (bp 96° C. @ 2.5 mm) 0 0.89 1.36 964 1067 5.77 0 0.89 1.36 966 1080 5.95 0 0.89 1.37 965 1054 5.57 0 0.89 1.37 967 1075 5.86 5 1.19 1.45 1295 1533 5.33 5 1.19 1.42 1288 1526 5.46 2-decalone 5 1.18 1.43 1284 1496 5.20 10 1.37 1.88 1492 1936 5.12 10 1.37 1.91 1490 1951 5.32 10 1.37 1.90 1486 1949 5.42 20 1.56 3.04 1689 2368 3.11 20 1.51 3.26 1635 2276 3.11 20 1.49 3.21 1620 2278 3.18 20 1.50 3.22 1628 2313 3.29 50 1.75 3.82 1901 3267 3.48 50 1.74 3.80 1886 3189 3.35 50 1.74 3.76 1886 3202 3.34 100 1.89 4.07 2047 3733 2.73 100 1.89 4.06 2046 3729 2.76 100 1.89 4.07 2051 3750 2.84 200 1.87 4.09 2034 3624 2.52 200 1.94 4.24 2099 3654 1.95 200 1.93 4.25 2099 3715 1.96 200 1.94 4.26 2102 3748 1.98 500 1.74 3.87 1893 3178 2.86 500 1.75 3.87 1903 3247 2.98 500 1.76 3.90 1910 3279 2.98 1000 1.54 3.42 1674 2346 2.47 1000 1.54 3.41 1671 2380 2.67 1000 1.54 3.44 1670 2393 2.67 5-nonanone (bp 186° C.) 0 0.87 1.76 949 1091 5.84 0 0.86 1.72 939 1083 5.84 0 0.87 1.72 941 1088 5.88 0 0.86 1.72 938 1086 5.90 5 1.26 3.06 1365 1937 4.63 5-nonanone 5 1.20 2.84 1306 1694 4.47 5 1.19 2.83 1290 1645 4.37 5 1.17 2.79 1272 1626 4.42 10 1.20 2.73 1300 1929 5.64 10 1.14 2.61 1241 1750 5.56 10 1.14 2.62 1240 1753 5.59 10 1.13 2.58 1223 1722 5.52 20 1.20 2.73 1308 2048 6.08 20 1.17 2.64 1269 1860 5.94 20 1.15 2.63 1250 1811 5.90 20 1.15 2.63 1246 1777 5.87 50 1.26 2.89 1369 2234 5.89 50 1.25 2.88 1356 2187 5.94 50 1.24 2.82 1343 2148 6.00 200 1.20 2.74 1308 2230 6.89 100 1.21 2.88 1318 2130 6.50 100 1.19 2.77 1291 2100 6.49 100 1.17 2.72 1276 2032 6.52 100 1.16 2.69 1266 1973 6.51 200 1.20 2.76 1308 2339 7.00 200 1.20 2.78 1305 2283 6.89 200 1.16 2.72 1263 2153 6.92 500 1.09 2.45 1189 2307 8.09 500 1.09 2.44 1183 2290 8.13 500 1.10 2.47 1195 2314 8.15 1000 1.05 2.28 1145 2242 8.51 1000 1.04 2.23 1131 2207 8.38 1000 1.05 2.31 1139 2198 8.34 3-octanone (bp 167° C.) 0 1.35 1.81 896 984 3.11 3-octanone 0 1.29 1.80 855 994 3.86 0 1.39 1.84 929 1087 4.50 0 1.38 1.82 916 1082 4.54 50 2.24 2.82 1482 3078 5.75 50 2.32 2.98 1533 3292 5.69 50 2.27 2.76 1514 3348 6.38 200 2.34 3.52 1549 3438 5.86 200 2.34 3.19 1549 3496 5.60 200 2.35 3.17 1555 3478 5.45 500 2.31 3.04 1529 4217 6.40 500 2.34 3.16 1548 3903 6.08 500 2.35 3.11 1550 3930 6.10 500 2.36 2.94 1558 4629 6.77 1000 2.34 3.36 1550 4110 6.23 1000 2.35 3.01 1553 4797 6.89 1000 2.35 3.01 1553 4797 6.89 1000 2.30 2.98 1607 4423 6.45 2000 1.88 2.56 1243 3579 8.35 2000 2.08 2.77 1378 4004 7.73 2000 1.82 2.30 1200 3527 9.49 cyclooctanone (bp 195° C.) 53.5 2.44 3.31 1613 2935 2.31 53.5 2.45 3.31 1620 2798 1.97 53.5 2.45 3.33 1619 2822 2.05 53.5 2.49 3.26 1646 2916 1.96 102 2.63 3.53 1739 3414 1.62 102 2.61 3.58 1726 3462 1.82 102 2.64 3.56 1742 3449 1.51 152 2.66 3.36 1759 3503 1.97 152 2.68 3.41 1769 3514 1.93 cycloocta- none 152 2.68 3.50 1770 3440 1.77 152 2.69 3.47 1780 3391 1.64 260 2.69 3.79 1780 3500 0.91 260 2.68 3.86 1774 3465 0.93 260 2.68 3.82 1772 3416 0.62 260 2.69 3.85 1776 3390 0.65 497 2.59 3.64 1715 3344 1.41 497 2.63 3.54 1738 3383 1.21 497 2.62 3.59 1735 3307 1.00 497 2.63 3.56 1736 3273 0.81 1005 2.50 3.39 1653 3211 2.09 1005 2.50 3.54 1656 3213 2.32 1005 2.51 3.45 1657 3120 1.81 1005 2.51 3.40 1660 3124 1.66 2015 1.97 2.73 1303 2102 3.67 2015 1.98 2.72 1308 2118 3.56 2015 1.99 2.74 1316 2101 3.49 2015 1.98 2.78 1311 2092 3.47 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone (bp 174° C.) 52.1 2.33 2.79 1574 3826 5.55 52.1 2.36 2.78 1592 3987 5.43 52.1 2.36 2.76 1593 3917 5.39 102 2.30 2.84 1549 4045 6.53 102 2.26 2.89 1521 3632 6.27 102 2.27 2.89 1531 3658 6.16 260 2.21 2.87 1491 3951 6.50 260 2.22 2.87 1497 3930 6.42 260 2.23 2.92 1503 3974 6.36 510 1.88 2.43 1268 2903 7.58 510 2.03 2.66 1368 3364 7.17 510 2.04 2.71 1376 3436 7.13 999 1.67 1.93 1108 2308 8.67 999 1.64 1.81 1086 2214 8.91 999 1.61 1.78 1068 2146 8.97 4-ethylcyclohexanone (bp 192° C.) 1 0.98 1.97 1069 1264 5.15 1 1.00 2.00 1087 1262 5.16 1 1.02 2.03 1105 1284 4.83 1 1.00 2.00 1088 1279 4.88 1 1.00 2.00 1088 1279 4.88 5 1.75 3.50 1899 3293 3.63 5 1.73 3.51 1880 3505 4.31 5 1.73 3.56 1880 3115 3.15 10 1.88 3.67 2039 4352 4.48 10 1.89 3.67 2045 4034 3.90 10 1.88 3.73 2041 4270 4.29 20 2.02 4.20 2192 5227 5.05 20 2.04 4.25 2213 4840 3.81 20 2.04 4.17 2210 4895 3.87 50 2.12 4.20 2299 5413 4.05 50 2.11 4.21 2288 5636 4.40 50 2.11 4.20 2284 5340 3.88 100 2.07 4.16 2248 5230 4.01 100 2.06 4.14 2238 5532 4.52 100 2.06 4.07 2239 5731 4.88 200 1.95 4.03 2116 5384 5.22 200 1.94 4.00 2107 5608 5.59 200 1.93 3.95 2089 5730 5.94 500 1.76 2.38 1910 4662 9.00 4-ethylcyclo- hexane 500 1.68 2.19 1822 5998 10.60 500 1.66 2.17 1796 6108 10.71 1000 1.43 1.82 1556 2749 8.45 1000 1.42 1.82 1546 2914 9.04 1000 1.42 1.82 1543 3065 9.54 2000 1.24 1.56 1342 2686 10.07 2000 1.27 1.57 1381 2741 9.95 2000 1.25 1.56 1362 2814 10.31 2000 1.27 1.57 1379 2594 9.77 3-decanone (bp 205° C.) 0 1.05 1.35 1138 1310 5.74 0 1.04 1.30 1133 1320 5.72 0 1.05 1.32 1140 1322 5.58 5 1.66 3.27 1800 2923 4.13 5 1.40 3.29 1521 2217 4.72 5 1.36 3.04 1477 1963 4.09 5 1.35 3.07 1470 2011 4.42 10 1.69 3.67 1829 3272 4.33 10 1.63 3.57 1768 3145 4.95 10 1.57 3.46 1702 3065 5.39 20 1.83 3.89 1980 3394 3.42 20 1.48 3.14 1608 2191 4.00 20 1.72 3.79 1871 3375 4.57 50 1.87 3.99 2030 3722 3.45 50 1.81 4.08 1968 3665 3.89 50 1.76 4.00 1914 3605 4.32 100 1.91 3.78 2077 4559 4.62 100 1.75 3.47 1901 3139 3.83 100 1.71 3.40 1850 3241 4.54 3-decanone 100 1.69 3.29 1829 2944 3.82 500 2.05 3.87 2228 4827 3.81 500 2.01 3.80 2178 4808 4.13 500 1.97 3.79 2139 4798 4.41 1000 1.96 3.76 2129 4367 3.98 1000 1.95 3.70 2112 4418 4.21 1000 1.95 3.73 2114 4716 4.49 2000 1.32 2.50 1438 2094 4.53 2000 1.34 2.45 1450 2142 5.22 2000 1.35 2.56 1465 2312 5.48

[0020] From the test results given in the Table, utilizing representative examples of ketones according to the invention, the improvements of the operating condition performance, taken from actual measurements of the laboratory bench test system as well as calculated values for fluid film heat transfer coefficients (h_(o)) are shown. Increases in heat transfer (H₂O dt), mass transfer (dx), and the absorber power load (W) are shown as are the significant decreases in solution subcooling at the operating conditions. Calculated values of film heat transfer coefficients (h_(o)) are also increased. 

We claim:
 1. A water vapor absorption cycle cooling and/or heating system comprising an absorber containing a working fluid comprising an aqueous solution of a metal salt comprising lithium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium iodide, or mixtures of two or more thereof, and an effective amount of between 2 and about 50,000 parts per million, by weight, of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic ketone or aldehyde additive having between 5 and 24 carbon atoms for increasing the rate of water vapor sorption of said working fluid, said aliphatic ketone being of the formula R₁(C═O)R₂ wherein R₁ and R₂ are the same or different alkyl and substituted alkyl groups of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and wherein when R₁ is a methyl group the carbon atom of the other alkyl group R₂ attached to the carbonyl group is a primary or tertiary carbon atom, and wherein the amount of said metal salt present in said absorber is at least about 40%, by weight, of said working fluid.
 2. A system of claim 1 wherein said ketone and said aldehyde are insoluble or slightly soluble in said working fluid and are liquid at 20° C. and above.
 3. A system of claim 1 wherein the additive in said working fluid is an aliphatic ketone wherein said R₁ and R₂ are alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
 4. A system of claim 3 wherein either or both of said alkyl groups are halogen substituted.
 5. A system of claim 3 wherein either or both of said alkyl groups are fluoro substituted.
 6. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains a mixture of said ketones.
 7. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains a mixture of said aldehydes.
 8. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains a mixture of one or more of said ketones and one or more of said aldehydes.
 9. A system of claim 1 wherein said ketone and said aldehyde are substantially completely soluble in said working fluid at 20° C. and above.
 10. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains between 2 ppm and about 20,000 ppm, by weight of said additive.
 11. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains between 2 ppm and about 10,000 ppm, by weight of said additive.
 12. A system of claim 1 wherein the additive is a ketone selected from the group consisting of 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, 3,3-dimethyl-2-hexanone, 4-methyl-2-hexanone, 5-methyl-2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, 4-heptanone, 2,4-dimethyl-4-heptanone, 2-octanone, 3-octanone, 4-octanone, nonanone, decanone, undecanone, cyclohexanone, dimethylcylohexanone, ethylcyclohexanone, cylooctanone, methylpropiophenone, decalone, tetralone, acetophenone and benzophenone.
 13. A system of claim 1 wherein the additive is an aliphatic aldehyde having between 6 and 14 carbon atoms.
 14. A system of claim 13 wherein said aldehyde is halogen substituted.
 15. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains lithium bromide and one or more salts selected from the group consisting of ZnCl₂, ZnBr₂, MnCl₂, MnBr₂, MgCl₂, MgBr₂, SrCl₂, SrBr₂, FeCl₂, FeBr₂, CaCl₂, CaBr₂, LiCl, LiI, LiNO₂, LiNO₃, LiSCN and LiClO₃.
 16. A system of claim 1 wherein said cooling and/or heating system comprises a single or double effect absorption apparatus and wherein said metal salt comprises lithium bromide.
 17. A system of claim 1 wherein said additive is a ketone, and wherein said working fluid comprises an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.
 18. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid includes one or more of cesium hydroxide, rubidium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide.
 19. A system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid contains in addition to said ketone or said aldehyde, an additive amount of an alcohol or an amine heat and mass transfer additive.
 20. A water vapor absorption cycle cooling and/or heating system comprising an absorber containing a working fluid comprising an aqueous solution of a metal salt selected from lithium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium iodide, or mixtures of two or more thereof, or a hydroxide selected from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures of said hydroxides, and an effective amount of between 2 and about 50,000 parts per million, by weight, of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic ketone having between 5 and 24 carbon atoms for increasing the rate of water vapor sorption of said working fluid, said aliphatic ketone being of the formula R₁(C═O)R₂ wherein R₁ and R₂ are the same or different alkyl and substituted alkyl groups of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and wherein when R₁ is a methyl group the carbon atom of the other alkyl group R₂ attached to the carbonyl group is a primary or tertiary carbon atom, and wherein the amount of said lithium metal salts present in said absorber is at least about 40%, by weight, and the amount of said hydroxide present in said absorber is at least about 30%, by weight, of said working fluid.
 21. A system of claim 20, wherein said working fluid contains in addition to said ketone, an additive amount of an alcohol or an amine heat and mass transfer additive.
 22. A system of claim 1 wherein said additive is an aromatic ketone
 23. A system of claim 1 wherein said additive is an alkyl or hologen substituted aromatic ketone.
 24. A system of claim 22 wherein said aromatic ketone is propiophenone or alkyl or hologen substituted derivative thereof.
 25. A system of claim 24 wherein said aromatic ketone is 4-methylpropiophenone.
 26. A system of claim 22, 23, 24 or 25 wherein said working fluid contains in addition to said aromatic ketone an additive amount of an alcohol having 6-10 carbon atoms.
 27. A system of claim 26 wherein said alcohol is 2-ethylhexanol.
 28. A system of claim 20 wherein said ketone is an aromatic ketone.
 29. A system of claim 28 wherein said aromatic keton is propiophenone or alkyl or hologen substituted derivative thereof.
 30. A system of claim 29 wherein said aromatic ketone is 4-methylpropiophenone.
 31. A system of claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein said working fluid contains in addition to said aromatic ketone an additive amount of an alcohol having 6-10 carbon atoms.
 32. A system of claim 31 wherein said alcohol is 2-ethylhexanol. 